PM Modi launches two big agriculture schemes worth Rs 35,440 crore

New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday launched two major agricultural schemes for farmers with a combined outlay of Rs 35,440 crore, including a mission for self-reliance in pulses, and called upon farmers to increase production to meet domestic and global demand. While addressing the event at Pusa campus in the national capital, he said the farmers have a critical role to play in realising the vision of a developed India (Viksit Bharat) by 2047.

Pradhan Mantri Dhan Dhaanya Krishi Yojana: All you need to know

The PM-DDKY aims to transform 100 low-performing agricultural districts based on the Aspirational Districts Programme (ADP) model. The scheme will focus on enhancing crop productivity, promoting crop diversification, improving irrigation and storage facilities, and ensuring credit access in the selected districts.

Mission for Aatmanirbharta in Pulses: All you need to know

For the pulses mission, Modi urged farmers to increase pulses acreage by 35 lakh hectares by 2030 to boost production and achieve self-reliance. The mission targets raising pulses production from the current 252.38 lakh tonne to 350 lakh tonnes by 2030-31, thereby reducing import dependency.

Taking aim at the previous Congress government, Modi accused it of "neglecting" the farm sector, saying the Opposition party lacked "vision" for this crucial sector's growth.

PM Modi highlights measures taken in past 11 years

The Prime Minister highlighted various measures taken over the last 11 years for the overall development of the agriculture and allied sectors.

"In the interest of farmers, we have taken several reforms from seed to market (Beej se Bazaar tak)," he said.

Outlining the sector's achievements during his tenure, Modi said farm exports have doubled, foodgrain production has increased by 900 lakh tonne, and fruits and vegetables production has risen by 640 lakh tonne.

Modi also noted that the recent reduction in goods and services tax (GST) rates has benefited rural India and farmers the most, with prices of farm machineries like tractors coming down.

Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying Minister Rajiv Ranjan Singh, and Minister of State for Agriculture Bhagirath Choudhary were present at the event.

With inputs from PTI